In the world we live in today, it’s refreshing to hear music that takes you to a different time and place. That time and place could be at point that was more innocent or adventurous, or even a feeling that has stayed with you. All of these put together makes a great recipe for an album. The time it takes you to is around the mid/late 70’s when glam and punk are starting to become something substantial as well as transporting you to the mid 90’s when alternative music was taking off. With that in mind, I’d like to present the Album Of The Week, Witkin’s, Things I Might’ve Said.
Throughout the twelve songs found on the debut album, Veronica Witkin wears her heart on her glitzy sleeves. These songs pour out through the speakers in a way that is infectious and touching. Things I Might’ve Said is a poignant album that goes through the depths and despair of life be it depression, self loathing, losing the passion and then some. The music and lyrics that unfold throughout the album are uplifting in a very positive way that makes you want to start a new day. There is something about the way the hooks in the songs grab you. Each song has it’s own personality but, the uncanny passion and emotion delivered on these tracks is what keeps you engrossed. Musically I love the Bowie/T-Rex inspiration mixed with the best of 90’s alt rock. When you listen to the album there is a vibrant feeling mixed with the melancholy that shines quite bright. Of course there are rock songs found all throughout the Things I Might’ve Said but, the vulnerable more delicate songs really pull at the heartstrings.
I love debut albums like this. The kind of albums that you put it all out there and let yourself become who you are. Veronica Witkin and her band are definitely one to watch out for. Their live shows are chock full of fun and energy that spreads throughout the room. I personally can’t wait for Saturday October 18 at Bar10 At Corbin Bowl (in Tarzana) for Witkin’s Record Release Show! It’s going to be one hell of a fun and great night. Also playing are Vagabond, Seven 40 Seven, High Flight and Over Grip and it’s only $10! See you there and don’t forget to check out Witkin’s debut album, Things I Might’ve Said!!!
Overall Rating: 9/10
Stand Out Tracks: “Last Year’s Ashes,” “You’re So Cinematic,” “Don’t Call It A Cult,” “Drowning In The Gene Pool,” and “These Days”
AFI has long been a band that evolves a bit more with each album. For many albums now, AFI have been adding more and more goth elements to the music and on this new album (studio album number 12), Silver Bleed The Black Sun, they have just gone full on with it and the end result is absolutely splendid. This album leans all the way into the post-punk influences of bands like The Cure, Joy Division, Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus and more.
While the album is short in time with ten songs and clocking in at 35 minutes, there isn’t one ounce of filler or out of place anything on Silver Bleeds The Black Sun. What you have is one of their most cohesive albums since Burials (which is one hell of a great album). Each song evokes a certain mood and vibe making this a grand listening experience. From the way the album opens with the haunting “The Bird Of Prey” all the way through the very punk “NOONEUNDERGROUND,” it’s a non stop ride. The twists and turns found throughout make it chock full of ear candy and sweet surprises. There’s a really fun 80’s vibe throughout the album too that tinges on new wave without taking away the darkness. While the lyrics are of a contemplative and dark nature as they would be courtesy of Davey Havok, musically Jade Puget, Hunter Burgan and Adam Carson have pushed past any preconceived notions of what they’ve done before and brought a very invigorating sound that is vibrant and alive while at the same time eerie and full of bite.
I could have gone track by track but I truly believe that takes away from the listening experience. Instead, put this album on and let it just take you where it needs to go. A band like AFI is quite interesting in that they never want to stay in one place for too long and get complacent. One of the things I’ve genuinely loved about this band is their willingness to take chances and explore all that they enjoy. I’ve said to people many times over the years that AFI is one of those bands that you should give a chance to even if it isn’t your normal cup of tea. Silver Bleeds The Black Sun is one of the best albums of 2025.
Overall Rating: 9/10
Stand Out Tracks: Blasphemy & Excess, Spear Of Truth, A World Unmade, NOONEUNDERGROUND
I’ve spent the past week trying to put into words about how truly amazing and stunning the two nights of Nine Inch Nails were at The Forum. Those two nights were beyond magical and therapeutic for me as well as being the 20th and 21st times I’ve seen my all time favorite band. It’s astounding to me that songs written over 30 years ago can sound so fresh and invigorating. Almost to the point of taking on a whole new meaning. What Trent Reznor has been able to do with constantly being able to captivate an audience and make a show an entire experience is otherworldly.
The stage set up for this whole tour was something else too. Staring out on a small stage in the middle of the floor, Trent appears alone, at a piano, and begins playing the most absolutely beautiful stripped down version of “Right Where It Belongs.” This is one of those songs in the Nine Inch Nails catalog that will make tears start flowing and choke you up. Just when you thought it was over though, Trent pulls out my another stripped down song in “Somewhat Damaged.” Now this is my all time favorite Nine Inch Nails song and when I say this was emotional, I truly mean it. So much so that in the first 5 minutes of the show both nights, the tears were definitely filling up my eyes. From there another stripped down song in “Ruiner,” followed by the “Nothing Can Stop Me Now” remix of “Piggy” which can be found don the Further Down The Spiral remix album. I always love when Trent pulls out these versions live. It adds so much more of an extra dimension to the songs and live show.
At this point, the crowd was in the palm of Trent’s hands and then a full on onslaught of heaviness in the form of “Wish,” “March Of The Pigs,” “Reptile,” Heresy,” “Copy Of A” and “Gave Up.” It doesn’t matter how many times in my life I’ve heard those songs be it on album or live, I always seem to go apeshit. And at these 2 shows, oh did I. The way this part started with “Wish” and ended with “Gave Up” put it this way, if you still had a voice after these songs, you weren’t loud enough. By the end of “Reptile” on night one and by the end of “Wish” on night two, my voice was gone!
Then after that part of the set, Trent and Atticus moved back to the middle stage where they were joined by Boyz Noize for a set of songs that were remixed in a very awesome way. The highlight of this part was when they played “Vessel” from the very underrated and unsung masterpiece that is Year Zero. This had the crowd in a dancing frenzy. The crowd of course went nuts for “Closer” but the audience pop during the new song “As Alive As I Need You To Be” was something else. Closing out that portion was a really great remix version of “Came Back Haunted.” If you haven’t ever really given Hesitation Marks a listen, you should.
As the band headed back to the main stage after that awesome remix set, Trent and company unleashed more awesomeness with even more intensity as the band blasted “Mr. Self Destruct,” “Less Than, and “The Perfect Drug” into the stratosphere. Having Josh Freese back on the drums in Nine Inch Nails is like having him back home. Josh’s ferocious performance of “The Perfect Drug” is one of those that should be studied and watched a zillion times. It’s that good. Rounding out the set was the always fun “I’m Afraid Of American’s” which is quite the relevant song in the days we live in. As well as the staples of “The Hand That Feeds,” “Head Like A Hole,” and “Hurt.”
I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the production of the tour. The lights, visuals, performances, and energy of the whole thing was unlike anything I’ve been to all year. You could tell that this tour was meaningful in a myriad of different ways. Trent even said, he wasn’t going to do a tour unless it was something that was substantial. And oh boy was it. As I mentioned these were my 20th and 21st times seeing Nine Inch Nails and I can honestly say this tour is in my top five NIN shows of all time! Thank you Trent, Atticus, Robin, Josh and Alessandro for two nights of absolute gold! I can’t wait till the next time!
Overall Rating: A
Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy
Set List (Same For Both Nights): 01) Right Where It Belongs (with Somewhat Damaged) 02) Ruiner 03) Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now Remix) 04) Wish 05) March Of The Pigs 06) Reptile 07) Heresy 08) Copy Of A 09) Gave Up 10) Vessel (Remix) 11) Closer (Remix) 12) As Alive As You Need Me To Be 13) Came Back Haunted (Remix) 14) Mr. Self Destruct 15) Less Than 16) The Perfect Drug 17) I’m Afraid Of Americans (David Bowie Cover) 18) The Hand That Feeds 19) Head Like A Hole 20) Hurt
There are times when certain bands come along and captivate in such a way that makes you sit up and pay attention. Quite a few years back, my friend Adam, told me about this band he had been digging for a while. He passed along one song to check out and I was definitely hooked. The song was called “Polarizer” and it made me feel like that guy sitting in that chair in a very old commercial, and getting completely swept away by the sheer sonic intensity. Fast forward many years later, and here I am at The Roxy on Sunset, and oh man did the decibels rattle the spot!
As the clock struck 10:00pm and the curtain lifted, the sonic assault began. For the next hour, The Armed tore through song after song with a punk rock fury that could get a paralyzed person walking again. Ok well maybe not exactly that but, you can picture the intensity in which this show had. Playing the majority of songs from their very awesome new album, The Future Is Here And Everything Needs To Be Destroyed, there was no letting up for this band. Even when you thought, oh this will take a more mellow turn, NOPE, right back into the pummeling. The musicianship of all members was top notch throughout the set. There is a reckless abandon to an Armed show live. Their energy from the stage is beyond infectious and really makes you want to move. Then you throw in their punk/hardcore style mixed with some electronics and its a recipe for a barrage of excitement. There were a couple moments during the set that were genuine highlights for me. One being their cover of my all time favorite Nine Inch Nails song “Somewhat Damaged.” They stripped it down a bit and delivered a very convincing version. Then to close out the night, they played “Forever Scum” from their “Untitled” album, which happens to be my favorite album of The Armed’s.
If you get the chance to see The Armed, you definitely should. This band is one of those super fun, high energy bands that takes the best of punk and hardcore and makes it quite fun. It’s all serious but, there is an element of fun and danger to The Armed that makes it unhinged and slightly volatile. The Armed are a force of nature and should be on all your radars! Go check out what The Armed has in store for you!
Overall Rating: B+ (needed a better opener and more songs from Untitled)
Wow! Seriously, Wow! I have to say this show was beyond awesome. There are some bands out there that just have the right recipe for putting on a show that leaves you feeling great, inspired and ready to take on anything and Linkin Park is definitely one of those bands. This show in Los Angeles as part of their From Zero World Tour, was outstanding. Last year around this time, I went to their return show at The Forum and that one too was something special. And just like that show, it was full of so many people smiling, singing along, sharing in the joy of getting to see Linkin Park do what they do best.
At 9:05pm, the screens around the venue turned dark and a 10 minute countdown appeared, when the clock hit zero, it was on! Colin, Joe, Dave, Alex, Emily and Mike all took the stage and blasted off with the heaviest version of “Somewhere I Belong,” I’ve ever heard. I didn’t realize how good of an opener that song really is. From there it was just an onslaught of banger after banger with “Crawling,” “Up From The Bottom,” Lying From You (which is one of my all time favorite LP songs),” and “The Emptiness Machine.” Talk about a way to open a set. Those 5 songs not only set the night on fire but, the crowd participation on each of those songs was astounding, especially on “Crawling” and “Lying From You.” After that, it went into so many other great gems LP has including 2 songs from the very underrated and very awesome A Thousand Suns, “Waiting For The End (another of my all time favorite LP songs)” and “The Catalyst.” The From Zero songs really were on fire like “Two Faced,” “Overflow,” “Stained,” “Over Each Other” but, even more so on the live debut of “Unshatter,” “Heavy Is The Crown” and “I Gave You Everything I Have.” The latter of which was a real highlight for me. The explosive nature of that song ferocious. Other fun songs like “Lost” from the Meteora 20 release sounded great. It started with just Mike and Emily then it hit the gas pedal for the second chorus and was simply divine. When they played “Numb” they started the song off in a very fantastic fashion by speeding it up to make it more of a “punk” sounding song. I so want to hear it in full like that! During “In The End” the crowd participation was almost deafening. I love a good concert sing along and this one might have taken the cake this year. Of course when they played “Faint” and “Papercut” I was through the roof. Those 2 songs are in my top 5 LP songs of all time. I absolutely love those songs. The video for “Faint” is one of my all time favorites too. During the set too there were a couple of solo moments where Joe Hahn showed off his scratching skills. I forgot how damn good he is at that. Reminded me a bit of seeing them back in the Hybrid Theory era and how they would do that. Also, Mike had his solo moment with “When They Come For Me/Remember The Name” during part of that Mike likes to throw in a different rap verse from other songs and this evening he pulled out part of “High Voltage” which was pretty awesome. Closing out the night was the always fun “Bleed It Out” which also during the bridge they threw in part of “A Place For My Head” and then it was over.
If you have ever been a doubter of Linkin Park, seeing them live will change that. I had a long history of writing the band off but, I’m really glad I went back to listen and rediscover them. Having Emily and Colin in the band now has not only breathed new life into the band but, given all of us fans a reason to look forward to the future. Emily is a force of nature all on her own and these songs go even harder than before. That’s not a knock on Chester at all. Chester was great too but, with Emily it feels like the older songs are taken to new heights and the new songs are so damn good. Honestly this show and night was genuinely everything you’d want it to be. The production of the stage show was superb. It felt very immersive and intimate even though there wasn’t an empty seat or place to stand in the whole arena.
I took my daughter with me to the show as well and she had such an amazing time. She’s a huge LP fan and to see her smile, be happy and singing along was the cherry on top. Getting to share music with my daughter, friends and all of you is what makes this all fun. Seriously, if you haven’t heard From Zero, give it a listen. And the next time Linkin Park comes through town, GO!!! I know I will!
Overall Rating: A
Review and Photos By: Brian Lacy
Linkin Park Set List:
01) Somewhere I Belong 02) Crawling 03) Up From The Bottom 04) Lying From You 05) The Emptiness Machine 06) The Catalyst 07) Burn It Down 08) Stained 09) Where’d You Go (Fort Minor Cover) 10) Waiting For The End 11) Castle Of Glass 12) Two Faced 13) Joe Hahn Solo 14) When They Come For Me/Remember The Name (High Voltage Verse) 15) I Gave You Everything I Have 16) One Step Closer 17) Lost 18) Unshatter (Live Debut) 19) What I’ve Done 20) Overflow 21) Numb 22) Over Each Other 23) In The End 24) Faint ENCORE: 25) Papercut 26) Heavy Is The Crown 27) Bleed It Out (with A Place For My Head verse)
A few years back my friend Adam suggested I check out the band HO99O9 (pronounced Horror). I had heard the name before and was mildly curious. Then after I checked it out, I was hooked. Not long after that, we wound up going to a sort of secret show in the back of a coffee shop in Downtown Los Angeles to see HO99O9. That show really cemented for me what this band is all about. Intense isn’t the right word, more like vicious is a better way to describe this duo. HO99O9 blurs the line between hip hop, metal, industrial, electronic and then some. Having toured with Slipknot, Korn, Alice in Chains, Rob Zombie, Ministry, Cypress Hill, and Ghostface Killah, they definitely have the pedigree behind them.
Tomorrow We Escape is the bands third full length album. This one is very direct and focused on a mission. Throughout the 11 song album, there are many twists and turns that keep you captivated and trying to guess what’s next. The chaos is controlled yet burns its own path. From the instant the first song “I Miss Home” begins all the way through to the epic closer “Godflesh,” there is no letting off the pedal. Chock full of powerful beats that pulsate even in your brain even after the song is done, hooks that feel catchy but not cheesy and an edge that is razor sharp that cuts so deep. Other standout tracks include “Escape,” “OK, I’m Reloaded,” “Upside Down, and “L.A. Riots.” There are two specific songs though that truly shine on this album. The first being “Tapeworm” which features Greg Puciato (Dillinger Escape Plan, Better Lovers, The Black Queen, etc) and it’s one hell of a song. Greg takes the song to a whole other level. Just listen and you’ll know what I mean. And the other one is “Immortal” which features Chelsea Wolfe. This track is a complete 180 for the band and it is hauntingly dreamy. There’s a soothing touch to this song.
This is the album, I’ve been waiting for HO99O9 to make. The OGM and Yeti Bones have truly found their path on Tomorrow We Escape. All the elements that were thrown into the mix have a distinct place on these songs. When you think something might be out of place or a little weird, it’s not, just go with it and let it sink in. If you are looking for a barn burner of an album, this one is for you. I highly recommend you play this one loud and make sure your windows are down, it might shatter glass!
Oasis is one of those bands that I’ve been hoping would get back together for years. The last time I saw them was in 2008 on what would be their very last tour. For almost 20 years this silly feud between Liam and Noel lasted. Thankfully, that’s behind them now (fingers crossed) and we can all get to experience one of the best pure rock bands from the last 30 years. There is no denying the great songs, albums and performances throughout the years. This time around though, it’s different. It feels like a renewed sense of purpose and the songs have taken on a whole new meaning. Seriously, the world needs Oasis right now and this show was definitely proof of that!
At 8:45pm, the lights went down and the video countdown on the screen appeared, then a short little montage of clips from their career started and then to a roaring applause, Liam and Noel walked out on stage hand in hand to even more of a roar, and then immediately kicked off with “Hello,” which I have to say, was the perfect way to start the set. “Acquiesce” would follow right after along with “Morning Glory.” “Morning Glory” was a highlight for me. I’ve always loved that song so much, and this version they played had a bit of an extra edge to it. Other highlights included “Some Might Say,” “Cigarettes and Alcohol,” “Fade Away,” “Little By Little,” “Stand By Me” this song had sooo many people singing along and swaying in unison. Quite the sight to see. When one of my all time favorite Oasis songs ever in “Slide Away” was played, it sent me into the stratosphere. Even my daughter who was with me was singing her heart out throughtout the night but, especially on this song. Proud dad moment right there. Also before they played the song, Liam dedicated the song to “all the lovebirds in the house but, not in the Coldplay way. Love who you want, we don’t care.” I love the dig at Coldplay because well, Coldplay sucks! Yeah I said it! Then not too long after, I heard my all time favorite in “Live Forever.” I don’t care how many times I’ve heard that song, I will never get sick of it. It’s such a beautiful song. And it was another one that my daughter was singing her heart out at. Closing the main set was “Rock n Roll Star” another fan favorite and this was quite the rock version of the song. For the encore we got four songs and they were all sung so loudly by the audience. 100,000 plus people singing along to “The Masterplan” but especially “Don’t Look Back In Anger,” “Wonderwall” and “Champagne Supernova.” It was like a whole city singing along. The glow of cell phone lights and cameras was a sight to see as well. Though I do miss the sea of lighters more! A stellar set list and performance all together.
Now comes the part of the review where it flips. I’m not sure who’s idea it was to have Cage The Elephant be direct support for Oasis but, that was a really bad choice. First of all in the UK and Europe, they got Richard Ashcroft of The Verve. That right there with Oasis is how this should have been as well. Instead we got one of the most boring, overhyped, third rate Nirvana wannabes I’ve ever seen live. Seriously, they had zero energy. Almost to the point of soul sucking. Their stand still nature on stage was drab and just full of “when is this going to end.” I’ve seen so many bands in my life that, I can tell when a band is trying to hard to be something they are not, and Cage The Elephant is a prime example. You are not a rock band. You are an indie band that needs to stay in your lane and leave the rock to those that actually do rock! Seriously, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who, both of which are in their later 70’s, have more energy on stage than this band combined. Needless to say, I was not impressed. Also, there was another opener, Cast. They are an old school Brit-Pop band from the 90’s. Again nothing special and frankly a waste of time. Who the hell is picking these bands to open these shows? Come on! Do better!
The whole night was all about Oasis anyways. The set was nothing but hits, fan favorites and choice deep cuts. For two glorious hours the world stopped and everyone in attendance felt infinite. Oasis means a lot to so many people. People were traveling from all over the world to be there this evening. It was one of those truly special shows. Having Liam and Noel back together again just feels right. I did enjoy both of their respective solo careers and albums but, this is where they need to be. Both of them sounded better than ever along with the whole band. Plus it was great to have Bonehead and Andy Bell back on stage with the Gallaghers. Welcome back Oasis! Please stay around this time!!!
Show Rating: A- (lost points for the openers)
Review/Photos By: Brian Lacy
Oasis Set List:
01) Hello 02) Acquiesce 03) Morning Glory 04) Some Might Say 05) Bring It On Down 06) Cigarettes & Alcohol 07) Fade Away 08) Supersonic 09) Roll With It 10) Talk Tonight 11) Half The World Away 12) Little By Little 13) D’You Know What I Mean? 14) Stand By Me 15) Cast No Shadow 16) Slide Away 17) Whatever 18) Live Forever 19) Rock N Roll Star
Encore:
20) The Masterplan 21) Don’t Look Back In Anger 22) Wonderwall 23) Champagne Supernova (with a fireworks show at the end)
For the past 4 years, I’ve been part of The Cobalt Cafe resurgence now known as The Cobalt Presents. If you grew up in the So Cal area, especially near the San Fernando Valley, you knew that going to The Cobalt Cafe as well as playing there was a right of passage. It was a place that you could go and know you’d have a fun time, see really good bands, and be a part of the scene. And that’s all a part of what The Cobalt Presents has been doing for the last 4 years! Having the opportunity to book bands that feel like it would be a part of a classic Cobalt show has been pretty great. This show on Saturday August 23, 2025 at Hotel Ziggy is definitely one of those “this feels like the old Cobalt” shows.
Playing this evening are SIX stellar bands from the greater Los Angeles area. Each with their own style and vibe, thus making it a very eclectic and rocking evening. First up is Evisceration. These young kids love their metal and pack a ton of classics into their set along with some ripping original material. Following them is The Infinity Project. These youngsters have been making a name for themselves by constantly playing and delivering quite the rocking show. Their progress really shines in their original songs. Then we have Dog Particle. When I heard these guys I knew I had to find a show for them. I love a good old fashion three piece rock band that purely rocks and they most definitely do! Thee Invention is a band I’ve had my eye on for a while and I’m very excited to have them on the show. Mixing post-punk, alternative rock and a few other surprises makes them one of those you have to check out! Pushing Veronica is one of the most fun LA based bands around. They have the 90’s rock spirit and catchy tunes to match. Plus it’s always a fun show to see! Closing out the evening is another band I’m stoked on, the grunge-gaze, Shimmer Bed. Hot off of playing Echo Park Rising, Shimmer Bed is one of those bands that brings a style and sound to the table that is quite interesting and feels just right!
So what excuse do you have not to come to this rad show? It’s only $10 (cash at the door), ALL AGES, Located in Hollywood at Hotel Ziggy, one of the best cool, fun and vibey spots in Hollywood. So grab a friend and come get your rock on with The Cobalt Presents, Audioeclectica, Evisceration, The Infinity Project, Dog Particle, Thee Invention, Pushing Veronica and Shimmer Bed!
Every now and then a bands comes around that effects you in ways you didn’t think was possible. Throughout my musical journey, I’ve latched on to certain bands and albums to guide me through life. At different stages certain ones fit quite perfectly while others are the constant ones that give you that comfort and acceptance you’ve been looking for. The band Failure is one of those constant bands in my life. Ever since I heard Fantastic Planet when I was about 13 years old, I was hooked. There truly is something magical about that album and how it really connects and makes you feel every single note and nuance. If you were at their El Rey Reunion show like I was, you definitely know what I’m talking about.
When it was announced a while back that a Failure documentary was being made, that got me quite excited. I’ve read a lot about the band over the years be it from interviews (newer and older), magazine articles, and even the Golden DVD that had a mini doc about the band. The new documentary Every Time You Lose Your Mind, is a very up close and personal history of one of the most influential bands of the last 30 years. Behind the curtain and studio glass, you get a real in depth look into the history of the greatness of Failure. The interviews and stories with Ken Andrews, Greg Edwards, Kellii Scott are chock full of very insightfulness into the creative process of each album, how they formed a creative alliance and bond that was unlike anything else at the time, and all the while not knowing that what they made in such a short amount of time would wind up becoming this standard for not just songwriting but, production.
Another aspect of the documentary that is fascinating is hearing from other musicians that have felt very connected to Failure over the years. One of the ones that surprised me the most was knowing Tommy Lee of Motley Crue is a giant Failure fan. The way he talks about hearing Failure for the first time is pretty astounding. Tommy though has always been pretty keen on what’s good out there (with the exception of him making Methods Of Mayhem). Another one that I loved was Haley Williams of Paramore. She’s such a huge Failure fan and the more that I’ve listened to Paramore, you can pick up a bit of certain Failure tendencies in how she sings and phrases lyrics. Also if you get the chance check out her cover of “Stuck On You” as well as the acoustic performance she did with Ken Andrews recently of “Heliotropic.” Even Maynard from Tool and A Perfect Circle provides some cool insight to the LA scene at the time. All the interviews on this are quite interesting and tell you about how so many people got into this band.
Like all rock band stories there are ups and downs. And Failure suffered quite the loss when the band broke up. The openness and vulnerability shown by all the members really shows that this band meant something to each of them. You could tell they didn’t want it to end when it did but, at the end of the day it was the right thing to do at the time. While each member moved on to their respective other pursuits musically, for example, ON, Year Of The Rabbit, Autolux, Veruca Salt, etc, the lore of Failure grew each year becoming a cult phenomenon. While their story is a cautionary tale to an extent, it also shows that if you have the drive, willingness and right people with you, the idea of making something great is possible.
Failure’s comeback has been, in my opinion, one of the top reunions ever. Their live shows when they came back were nothing short of amazing. The albums they’ve released have picked up where they left off and added a slew of more greatness to their catalog. If you haven’t listened to Failure, you are surely missing out. So do yourself a favor, sit down put on Hulu, look for Every Time You Lose Your Mind, and let it drip all over you and take in the greatness that is Failure.
Ever since A.F.I. released their new single “Behind The Clock” and their upcoming 12th studio album, Silver Bleeds The Black Sky, I’ve been on a bit of an A.F.I. kick. I went back through all their albums from the start till now and put them in quite the ranking. Some might surprise you while others I think are properly ranked. Silver Bleeds The Black Sun is out on October 3rd, so prepare yourselves. I have a really good feeling about this new album! *NOTE: Number 1 and 2 can be flipped. Just depends on my mood and the day!
EDIT: This album has been updated to include Silver Bleeds The Black Sun (10/15/25)
AUDIOECLECTICA 